Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 35 to 42.
LEVELS OF VOCABULARY
Most languages have several levels of vocabulary that may be used by the same speakers. In English, at least three have been identified and described.
Standard usage includes those words and expressions understood, used, and accepted by a majority of the speakers of a language in any situation regardless of the level of formality. As such, these words and expressions are well defined and listed in standard dictionaries. Colloquialisms, on the other hand, are familiar words and idioms that are understood by almost all speakers of a language and used in informal speech or writing, but not considered acceptable for more formal situations. Almost all idiomatic expressions are colloquial language. Slang, refers to words and expressions understood by a large number of speakers but not accepted as appropriate formal usage by the majority. Colloquial expressions and even slang may be found in standard dictionaries but will be so identified. Both colloquial usage and slang are more common in speech than writing.
Colloquial speech often passes into standard speech. Some slang also passes into standard speech, but other slang expressions enjoy momentary popularity followed by obscurity. In some cases, the majority never accepts certain slang phrases but nevertheless retains them in their collective memories. Every generation seems to require its own set of words to describe familiar objects and events.
It has been pointed out by a number of linguists that three cultural conditions are necessary for the creation of a large body of slang expressions. First, the introduction and acceptance of new objects and situations in the
society; second, a diverse population with a large number of subgroups; third, association among the subgroups and the majority population.
Finally, it is worth noting that the terms “standard”, “colloquial”, and “slang” exist only as abstract labels for scholars who study language. Only a tiny number of the speakers of any language will be aware that they are using colloquial or slang expressions. Most speakers of English will, during appropriate situations, select and use three types of expressions.
It can be inferred from the passage that the author_______.
A. does not approve of either slang or colloquial speech in any situation
B. approves of colloquial speech in some situations, but not slang
C. approves of slang or colloquial speech in appropriate situations
D. does not approve of colloquial usage in writing
Đáp án C.
Dịch câu hỏi: Có thể suy ra từ đoạn văn rằng tác giả _______.
A. không chấp nhận lối nói tiếng lóng hoặc thông tục trong mọi tình huống
B. chấp nhận lối nói thông tục trong một số trường hợp, nhưng không phải tiếng lóng
C. chấp nhận lối nói tiếng lóng hoặc thông tục trong các tình huống thích hợp
D. không chấp nhận việc sử dụng thông tục trong văn bản
(Ý trong bài: Finally, it is worth noting that the terms “standard”, “colloquial”, and “slang” exist only as abstract labels for scholars who study language. Only a tiny number of the speakers of any language will be aware that they are using colloquial or slang expressions. Most speakers of English will, during appropriate situations, select and use three types of expressions. ==>Cuối cùng, cần lưu ý rằng các thuật ngữ “chuẩn mực”, “thông tục” và “tiếng lóng” chỉ tồn tại như là nhãn trừu tượng cho các học giả học ngôn ngữ. Chỉ một số lượng nhỏ người nói của bất kỳ ngôn ngữ nào sẽ nhận thức được rằng họ đang sử dụng các cách diễn đạt thông tục hoặc tiếng lóng. Hầu hết người nói tiếng Anh sẽ, trong các tình huống thích hợp, chọn và sử dụng ba loại cách diễn đạt này.)